The defendants in the suit brought by the family of Teoh Beng Hock today admitted to negligence on their part resulting in his death in 2009.

The defendants agreed to pay the family of Teoh a total of RM600,000 in damages and RM60,000 as costs as a result.

The family of Teoh sued 10 officers of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), the MACC and the government of Malaysia for negligence and assault whilst he was in their custody and subsequently resulting in his death.

The family said in court today that they accept the payment to the extent of the claim for negligence and that they stand by the decision of the Court of Appeal recently and demanded that police conduct further investigations into the matter and charge those persons responsible for his death.

I think this is a great victory for the Teoh family. After six years of legal battles, they now have an acknowledgment by the MACC and government that they are responsible for his death.

We will continue to push the police for action in the matter. We have done all we possibly can in the matter legally. It is now for the police to do the needful and we will not stop pushing for justice for Teoh Beng Hock.

I also wish to place on record that I on behalf of DAP National Legal Bureau took on all Teoh’s legal battles pro bono. As such, I will not accept payment of any fees from the Teoh family in this regard.

This was also the clear instructions given to me by the late Karpal Singh, in respect of his services in this case before his untimely death last year.

GOBIND SINGH DEO is the Member of Parliament for Puchong.